Automobile direction signal



T. S. OPHEIM. AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION SIGNAL.

APPLICATION man sums. 1921.

" w Patented July 18', 1922.

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alter nu T. S. OPHEHVI.

AUTON|0B\LE DIRECTION SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 8. 1921. 1,423,249. Patented July 18, 1922.

2 SHEET S-SHEET 2.

llllllllllilllllllL Application filed September 8, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ToReILs S. OPHEIM,

. a subject of Norway, and resident of Everett,

in the county of Snohoinish and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Automobile Direction Sig nals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to direction signals for use upon automobiles or other vehicles in traiiic.

An object of my invention is to produce a signal which may beretracted within a small compass and which may be projected rapidly and to a distance to be readily recognizable.

A further object is the provision of a signal which when in signaling position is of substantial area, whereby it will attract attention, but which whenin non-signaling position is of small area, whereby the wind resistance thereto is greatly reduced.

A further object is the provision, in connection with such a signal, of means for definitely positioning and holding it in a plurality of signaling positions.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are: shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specifications, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a partial section of my signal shown in signaling position as it would appear from the rear.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, parts being shown in non-signaling position.

Figure 3 is a section through my device, parts being shown in process of opening out.

Figure 1 is a section on line 4--t of Figure 3.

The signal proper is composed of plurality of relatively slidable or telescoping sections, represented herein by thev numerals 1, 10, 11, and 12. These may be of any desired form, although I prefer that they be made as plates or as flattened tubes, so that by their area they may be readily observed. Each section is connected with the next inner section so that movement of the latter will cause its own movement to be at a rate of speed greater than that of the said next inner section. To put it more clearly and concretely, the section 11, for instance, is.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMOBILE DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Patented July 18, 1922. Serial No. 499,313.

so connected to the section 10 that upon movement of the section 10 the section 11 will move twice as fast and in the same direction as section 10.

This is preferably accomplished by means of an arrangement of rack bars and pinions which I will now describe. The section 10 is supported from a tube 20 which telescopes within a fixed tube 2 forming the support of the fixed innermost section 1. Similarly, the section 11 is supported from atube 21 and the section 12 from a bar 22, each being telescoped within the next inner support. The bar 22 and the tube 21 are each provided with a primary rack teeth, as best shown in Figure 1. A secondary rack 3 is carried by the fixed section 1, as by pivoting it by one end at 30, and is held in mesh with a pinion 4: carried by the section 10 which is next outermost of the fixed section 1. The pinion lin turn meshes with the rack teeth upon the tube 21.

Movement of the section 10 relative to the section 1 will cause the pinion 1 to rotate, inasmuch as it is in mesh with the fixed rack bar 8. The pinion atbeing also in mesh with the teeth upon the tube '21, its rotation will cause the tube 21 to be advanced relative to the section 10. This causes the advance of the section 11, which is supported from the tube 21, at a rate of speed greater than that of the section 10. Similarly the section 12 is advanced through the medium of a rack bar 31 carried by the section 10, a pinion 41 carried by the section 11, and the rack bar which forms the support of this section 12. I11 this case the section 12 is advanced at a rate of speed greater than the moving section 11 which is next innermost thereof. Such a series might be carried 011 indefinitely, the only limit being the strength of materials and the amount of friction produced. Anoperating handle 23 for actuation of the series is secured to the inner end of the supporting tube 20 within reach of the driver.

It is desirable that this signal shall show whether the driver intends to turn to right or to left or to stop. To do this it may be projected in the three recognized directions for these three signals. The tube 2 which forms the support for the fixed section 1 and for the various telescoping tubes 20, 21 and 22, is secured in the tubular head 50 of a T-shaped pivot support member 5. The member 5 is rotatable upon a boss 51 which forms a part of the bracket 52 by means or which the device is secured upon the windshield frame oi the automobile. A catch is provided for holding the signal in any of the signaling positions. This is shown as comprising the bar 6 slidable through the member 5 and having a dog which is engagable in any one of a series of holes 53 in the boss 51. A spring 62 maintains the dog 60 engaged in a hole 53. The bar 6 is provided with a handle 63 which is engageable by the driver for releasing the catch.

Such a signal as that described above may be rapidly and conveniently projected into or retracted from signaling position and with only a slight movement by the driver. It presents a considerable area to the vision of the driver of a following or approaching vehicle. This surface may be illuminated at night by suitable lights 7 and '70, if desired. The signal in its retracted position is of relatively small area anddoes not create a large amount of wind resistance. In its retracted position it may easily and rapidly be swung from one to another signaling position, and then opened out. This obviates much of the effort or swinging a long and heavy arm which is always unwieldy ina vehicle moving at even a moderate rate of speed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a direction signal, a plurality of slidable sections, and means operable by movement of an inner section for moving the next outer section at an increased rate of speed.

2. In a direction signal, a plurality of telescoping sections, each section being operatively connected with the next outer section whereby movement of any section moves the next outer section at twice its own rate of speed.

3. In a direction signal, a plurality of telescoping sections, a rack bar held stationary relative to a movable section, a second rack bar movable with the next outer section, and a pinion carried by the first or inner movable section and intermeshing with each or said rack bars.

4:. Ina direction signal, a plurality of sections, a plurality of telescoping tubes each supporting its respective section, primary rack bars carried by certain of the movable tubes, secondary rack bars carried by certain of said sections, and pinions carried by certain of said sections and interineshing with one each of the primary-and secondary rack bars, the primary rack bar being secured to an outer section, the secondary rack bar being carried by an inner section,

and the pinion being carried by an intermediate section.

5. A direction signal comprising a plurality of relatively, slidable sections, a pivot support therefor, and a catch operabl to hold said signal in a plurality of signaling positions about its pivot. v

. 6. A direction signal comprising a plurality of relatively slidable sections, a pivot support therefor including a T-shaped member having a tubular head, an operating arm passing through and slidable in said tubular head, and a catch for securing said signal in a plurality of signaling positions about its pivot. V

7. In. a direction signal, a plurality of slidable sections each normally supported independently of the others, and means connecting said sections whereby movement or an inner section causes movement of an outer section at an increased rate of speed.

TORGILS S. 'OPHEIM. 

